Apparatus for mixing concrete, mortar, &amp; c.



No. 63|,782. Patented Aug. 29, I899.

l. H. FISHER. APPARATUS FOR MIXING CONCRETE, MORTAR, 8L0.

(Application filed May 15, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Shoets$heet l.

m: uonms PETERS ca. momumu. WASHINDT u Patented Aug. 29, I899.

I. H. FiSHEB. v APPARATUS FOR MIXING GUIURETE, MORTAR, 8L0.

(Application filed my 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE nouns PEYERS 90. PHOTLMJT No. 631,782. Patented Aug. 29, I899.

- I. H. FISHER. APPARATUS FOR mxme CONCRETE, MORTAR, ac.

(Application filed. May 15, 1899.) (No Modal.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 63!,782. Patented Aug; 29, 1899.

I I l. H. FISHER. APPARATUS FOR MIXING CONCRETE, MORTAR, 8L0.

(Application filed my 15, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-,Sheef 4.

llllll eM/f o z! aaaEFwizerx g 9% Maw UNITED STATES i PATENT. r'rrcn.

ISAAC ll. FISHER, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING CONCRETE, MORTAR, 800..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,782, dated August 29, 1899. Application filed May 15,1899. Serial No. 716,918. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC I-I. FISHER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Concrete, Mortar, and Similar Mechanical Mixtures, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for mixing concrete, mortar, and similar mechanical mixtures, and has for its object to provide a rotating self-dumping apparatus having novel means whereby upon the opening of the loading-door to introduce the concrete materials into the apparatus the mixing-drum is thrown out of connection with the means for rotating the same, so that said drum will be tem porarilyindepen'dent thereof and the mixingdrum remain in loading position unaffected by the continued movement of thelatter.

The invention also has for its object to provide such an apparatus with means whereby when the loading-door isclosed after the concrete materials have been placed in the drum said drum is automatically clutched to the rotating means and made to rotate, so that the concrete materials will be mixed and the concrete prepared.

My invention has for its further object to provide an apparatus having means which act during the dumping operation to throw the mixing-drum out of clutch with the rotating means, so that should the latter travel after the apparatus has been opened to dump the contents the rotating drum will be independent thereof, and consequently no damage can occur to the machine or the parts thereof be deranged in such event, and in a combined mixing and transporting machine permitting the dumping of the apparatus without pause in its forward movement on its ground-wheels.

My invention has for its further object the provision of a mixing and transporting appa.

ratus having means which during the dumping operation act to throw the mixing-drum out of clutch with the rotating wheels and retain it so out of clutch until made to connect again by the positive act of the operator, whereby the drum will remain independent of the rotating means in going to the place of loading, thus attaining the advantage of deposition.

creasing the work to be performed by the animals.

My invention has also for its object a novel manner of mounting the shafts, bail, or handles of a combined concrete mixing and transporting apparatus, whereby a strong compact structure is secured. 7 Finally, my invention has for its object to improve the details of construction and mode of operation of apparatus of the class to which the invention belongs.

To these ends the said invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, combination, and mode of operation of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is embodied in a combined mixing and transporting apparatus, and wherein Figure l is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation,one of the wheels of the apparatus being removed, showing the arrangement and operation of parts when the loading-door is open. Fig. I is a similar view, partlyin section, illustrating the operation and position of the parts in the act of dumping. Fig. 5 is a detail of the retaining devices for holding the lockreleasing bolt retracted or out of operative Fig. 6 is a detail of the manner of mounting the shafts, bail, or handles on the wheel-hubs.

While I have in the drawings shown and will describe my invention as embodied in a traveling vehicle or combined mixer and transporter in which the ground-wheels serve to rotate the mixing-drum, I do not confine myself to such arrangement, as the invention is equally present in a stationary apparatus or a portable or semiportable apparatus in which the driving-wheels are replaced by a driving-wheel, pulley, or other suitable transmitting element in turn driven by a suitable .motor. In the'following specification, therefore, I use the term drum-rotating wheels in the comprehensive sense of including such a driving wheel or pulley or equivalent element in a stationary apparatus. H V,

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates drum -rotating wheels loosely mounted upon an axle or shaft 2, and upon which is also mounted a suitably-shaped concrete-mixing drum 3 3. The axle may extend through the drum or may consist of gudgeons or axle-arms secured to one section of the drum. In the example shown this drum also serves as a transportingchamber and the wheels as traveling wheels. As shown, the hubs 4 are provided with or have rigidly secured thereto ratchets 5 at their inner ends, and the drum has pivoted thereto pawls 6 for the purpose of clutching or coupling said drum to the wheel-hubs, whereby it is caused to rotate with the driving-wheels, thus mixing the concrete materials which have been introduced thereinto for the purpose of preparing the concrete. The ratchets and pawls are illustrative of a convenient clutch mechanism;-but in the broader aspect of my invenclu-tching or coupling devices-such, for instance, as a sliding clutch or a fast and loose pulley, and a shifting levermay be employed. The ratchet -wheels 5 may be arranged on the axle or shaft, if desired. The pawls and the manner of their operation will be more fully described hereinafter. The wheel-hubs at are turned to provide journals for the boxes 7 of the shafts 8 of the apparatus, whereby said shafts are mounted directly upon the wheel-hubs inside the wheels instead of on the axles outside thereof. 1 desire that the term shafts shall include also any suitable bail or handles, as it is obvious that such are the equivalents of shafts within my invention. This manner of mounting the shafts provides a very compact and strong arrangement and, furthermore, enables the front member of the framework 9, which supports the end of the lock-releasing bolt 10, to be arranged in close proximity to the drum and be connected directly across and to the shafts. This arrangement is important in that it alfords a very direct, simple, and strong support for the end of the bolt which is required to sustain a considerable strain when it operates to engage and arrest one of the sections of the drum, as hereinafter described,

Mounted in a framework 9, in the present instance consisting in part of the shafts 8, is a lock-releasing'bolt 10, surrounded by a sleeve 11, containing a spiral spring 12, one end of which bears against an abutment 13 on the bolt and the other end against the sleeve-support 14. The normal tendency of the spring is to shoot'or project the bolt, the latter being held in retracted position against the force of the spring by a suitable retaining device, which in the present instance consists of a ring-catch composed of a pivoted arm 15, having a ring 16 encircling the bolt and adapted to be thrown into engagement with a recess 1'7 in the bolt. When so engaged, the bolt will be held retracted, as will be obvious upon an inspection of the drawings. Vhen it is desired to dump the .pressed pivotal fingers 20, carried by the section 3, and the free ends of which are in normal engagement with the keeper. Toinsure the true alinement of the fingers to centrally receive the descending keeper 19 when the drum is closing, I provide pins 2O on the bedplate 20*, which pass through elongated slots in the fingers to limit the movement of the tion I do not limit myself thereto, as other 1 fingers and prevent any inequality in the strength of the pressin g-sprin gs crowding one of the hooks out of line with the keeper. The

l drum may be loosely hung on the axle 2, or it may be, and preferably is, rigidly secured thereto, the connection being with the section 3, the other section 3 being free to move into the position shown in Fig. 4 to dump. When it is desired to dump the apparatus, the operator releases the bolt 10, the end of which then stands in the path of the rotation of the keeper and first engages the springpressed fingers 20 to force them from locking engagement with the keeper and then engages the latter, and thus automatically arrests the rotation of the section 3, to which the keeper is secured. The construction of the locking devices and the bolt and their operation need not be further described in detail, as the same is substantially like the corresponding parts shown in Letters Patent No. 624,200, granted to me the 2d day of May, 1899.

The locking-bolt '10 is provided with a lug 21, so arranged that when the arrestedmember 3 rides out upon the runners 22, as hereinafter referred to, it will be engaged by said arrested section and the bolt be thus automatically forced back or retracted, this operation being illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings of the application. When the bolt has been thus retracted to its limit, the ring of the ring-catch automatically engages with the recess 17 of the bolt and holdsthe latter retracted.

The numeral 23 indicates the hinged loading-door, which forms a part of the section 3 of the drum and is adapted to turn upon its hinge to open or closed position. When it is desired to introduce concrete materials-such as sand, cement, and stone-or the materials for mortar or other similar mechanical mixture into the apparatus, the operator retracts the door-bolts 24 and swings the door to open position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and in so doing the clutch engagement of the drum with the drum-rotatingwheel-hubs tis released, so that when the parts are in this position should the horses or other draftanimals, attached in this case to the vehicle, become unruly or change theirposition by forward travel, or in a stationary machine should the drum-rotating Wheels continue their movement, there will be no danger of any part of the apparatus becoming injured or disarranged, but the drum will remain in proper loading position, because the mixingdrum and the elements carried thereby are now temporarily independent of the drivingpower. This operation is accomplished in the following manner: The clutch-pawls 6 are formed with tailpieces 6, and the loading-door is provided with trailingpins 25, located beyond or out of line with the hinge of said door. Said pins in the instance shown in the drawings are-formed on castings 26, which are secured to the loading-door. The position of the tailpieces 6 of the pawls and the pins 26 when the pawls are in engagement with the ratchets of the hubs of the drumrotating wheels is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When the loading-door is swung open, the pins 26 move in arcs of circles and engage the tailpieces of the pawls and operate to throw the noses of the latter out of engagement with the ratchets, and thus disconnect the drum from the drum-rotating wheels. The pawl, however, is not so far withdrawn from the ratchets as to permit engagement of the hereinafter-described lugs 32 with the notches 31 in the hooks 30, and therefore when the loading has been accomplished and the door is swung to closed position and the pins leave their engagement with the tailpieces of the pawls the noses of the latter are automatically thrown into engage ment with the ratchets through the medium of springs 27, connected to the drum at one end and also to levers 28, extending at right angles to the noses of the pawls. When desired in a stationary apparatus or when in a mixing and transporting machine the apparatus has arrived at the place where it is desired to dump the contents from the drum, the operator releases the bolt 10, and it is projected into the path of the drum-locking devices 19 20 and operates to release the same and arrest the section 3 of the drum, as heretofore described. The arrested section 3 now rides out upon the runners 22, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the drum is dumped. The arrested section before the limit of its movement on the runners engages and forces the bolt 10 to retracted position, and during this operation of dumping the engagement of the drum with the drum-rotating wheels is again released by automatically withdrawing the noses of the pawls from the ratchets. This is accomplished, in the instance shown in the drawings, by trailing-pins 29, carried by plates secured to the arrested section3, adjacent to the hinge connection of the sections, said pins arranged beyond or out of line with the axis of the hinge. The

pins are adapted to engage the hooks 30, connected with the levers 28, extending from the pawl at right angles with the noses thereof. The position of these parts before the dumping operation is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. W hen the sections separate, the rotation of the one beingarrested and the rotation of the other continuing, the pins carried by the arrested section move in the arcs of circles, and just before the sections have assumed the position illustrated in Fig. lt-the pins have come into engagementwith and pulled upon the hooks 30, so that the pawls are nearly outof engagement with the ratchets. At this time there is room for still further movement of the sections of the drum, as will be seen, and in such movement the pins continue to draw upon the hooks and, through the connection of the latter with the levers on the pawls (5, force the noses of the latter clear of engagement with the ratchets, thus automatically disengaging the drum from the drum-rotating wheels at this stage of the operation. It will be obvious that otherwise there would be great danger of breakage of some parts of the apparatus, since, especially in a stationary machine, the driving-motor could not with certainty be stopped at the exact instantdesired and the continued movement thereof would damage the apparatus by the breakage of some of the elements thereof. The provision of such means, however, renders such damage by breakage im-" and transporting apparatus without stopping the forward travel of the machine.

It is desired that the drum remain disconnected from the drum-rotating wheels in a combined mixing and transporting apparatus, so as to be non-rotary upon the axle or shaft to lessen the work of the draft-animals, oravoid waste offorce in revolving the empty drum in returning to the place of loading. This is attained in the present instance by providing notches 31 in the hooks, which when the latter are drawn upon by the pins are forced into engagement with lugs 32, carried by plates 33, secured to the section of the drum which carries the hooks by bent leaf-sprin gs 34, interposed between said hooks and the sockets 34, also carried by the plates In this position the parts will remain with the pawls out of engagement until the hooks are positively released by the operator by downward pressure to release the notches.

vices thereof come together and automatically interlock, or if the operator happens to be in the rear of the machine he maydraw upon or kick the section 3 and accomplish the same result.

Suspension -arms 36 are connected to the rear ends of the framework 9 (to the shafts 8 in the example shown) and support a. rod 37, which is arranged at the rear of the apparatus and slightly distant fromthe drum. This rod besides bracing or stiffening the frame is'adapted to support the loading-door and the rotary drum when the former is in open position, a foot 38 being formed upon the door and resting upon the supporting-rod, as shown in Fig. 3. This arrangementis desirable to afford firmness or steadiness to the drum while being loaded, and in cases where the drum is normally loose on the shaft and the clutch disconnected the preponderance of weight or the center of gravity of the drum being below the axle there would be no means of holding the drum in position for loading.

- The rod 37 also serves as a guard to prevent any accidental injury to an operative at the rear of the machine when the two sections of the drum are being thrown to closed position. Should a stone lodge on the edge of either section and prevent them from being completely closed and the drum-locking devices fail to engage, there would be danger of the section 3 swinging back and striking the operator. The rod 37, however, will prevent this occurrence by barring said section.

The spirit of my invention as disclosed is also applicable to a stationary concrete mixing and dumping apparatus. For the latter the only changes necessary will be to mount the bolt 10 in a stationary frame in juxtaposition to the drum 3 3, to mount the drum in stationary supports, to substitute a pulley for the driving-wheels 1, and drive the pulley by any suitable means, as by belt connection with an engine-shaft or other motor.

In describing the drawings forming a part of my application I have referred to the drum as a concrete-mixing drum for the sake of brevity; but it will be understood that the drum and my improved apparatus are equally adapted for the mixing of mortar and other mechanical mixtures.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. An apparatus for mixing concrete, mortar and similar materials, comprising a drum composed of two sections hinged together, and arranged to be opened to dump, means for rotating said drum when closed, and mechanism for releasing the drum from the rotating means when the hinged sections are opened, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for mixing concrete, mortar and similar materials, the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, means arranged in j nxtaposition to said drum for arresting the rotation of one of said sections and supporting the arrested section, and means for releasing said drum from the rotating means, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for mixing concrete,mor'- tar and similar materials, the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, means arranged in juxtaposition to said drum for arresting the rotation of one of said sections and supporting the arrested section, and means for automatically releasing said drum from the rotating means, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus formixingconcretennoi tar and similar materials, the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, means arranged in juxtaposition-mo said drum for arresting the rotation of one of said sections and supporting the arrested section, and means carried by said sect-ions for automatically releasing said drum from the means for rotating the same, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for mixing concrete,mor

6. In an apparatus for mixing concrete,mor-

tar and similar materials, the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, runners arranged in juxtaposition to said drum for arresting the rotation of one of said sections and supporting the arrested section, and a cooperating hook and pin carried by said sections for automatically releasing said drum from the means for rotating the same, substantially as described.

7. In a mixing apparatus the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating the same, means for clutching the drum to the rotating means, and means, operated by the movement of said sectiohs upon their hinge, for releasing the clutch. engagement of the drum with the wheels, substantially as described.

8. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum composed of two sections hinged together,means for rotating said drum, means for clutching the drum thereto, and a cooperating hook and pin carried bythe sections for releasing the engagement of the drum with the rotating meanswhen the sections are moved upon their hinge, substantially as described.

9. In a mixing apparatus the combination ICC IIO

ofa drum composed of two'sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, clutch members for connecting said rotating means with said drum, a cooperating hook and pin carried by said drum-sections for releasing the clutch engagement when the sections are moved upon their hinge, and means for holding the clutch members out of engagement, substantially as described.

10. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of adrum composed of two sections hinged together, means for rotating said drum, clutch members for connecting said rotating means with said drum, a cooperating hook and pin carried by the drum for releasing the clutch engagement when said sections are moved upon their hinge, said hook provided with a notch, and a lug carried by the drum to engage said notch and hold the clutch members out of engagement, substantially as described.

11. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum provided with a loading-door,means for rotating said drum, and means for automatically releasing the drum therefrom when the door is opened, substantially as described.

12. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum provided with a loading-door, means for rotating said drum, and means, carried by the drum and the door, for releasing the for mer from the rotating means when the latter is opened, substantially as described.

13. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum provided with a loading-door, means for rotating said drum, a clutch comprising a pawl for connecting said rotating means with said drum, and a pin carried by the door which throws the pawl out of engagement when the dooris opened, substantially as described.

14. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum provided with aloading-door,means for rotating said drum, a pawl and ratchet for connecting said rotating means with said.

drum, a tailpiece to said pawl and a pin carried by the door arranged to engage said tailpiece for throwing said pawl out of engagement when the door is opened, substantially as described.

15. In a mixing apparatus, the combination with a drum provided with a loading-door, means for rotating said drum, a pawl and ratchet for connecting saidrotating means with said drum, a tailpiece to said pawl, a pin carried by the door arranged to engage said tailpiece for throwing said pawl out of engagement when the door is opened, and a spring connected to the pawl for placing itin engagement with the rotating means when the door is closed, substantially as described.

16. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum composed of two sections adapted to be opened to dump the contents and provided with aloading-doo'r, means for rotating said drum, means for throwing it out of engagement with the rotating means when the loading-door is opened, and means for throwing it out of connection also when itis opened for dumping, substantially as described.

17. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of a drum composed of two parts and promounted on the axle between the wheels, said drum composed of two sections hinged together and in clutch engagement with the wheels, of a loading-door, and means carried thereby for disconnecting the clutch when the door is opened, substantially as described.

19. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of traveling wheels and a mixing-drum mounted on the axle between the wheels, said drum composed of two sections hinged together and in clutch engagement with the wheels, and means carried by the drum-sections for disconnecting the clutch when the drum is opened to dump, substantially as described.

20. In a mixing apparatus, the combination with traveling wheels and a mixing-drum mounted on the axle between the wheels said drum composed of two sections hinged together and in clutch engagement with the wheels, of a loading-door, and means carried by the door and by said sections for disconnecting the clutch engagement when the drum is opened to load or dump, substantially as described.

21. In a mixing apparatus, the combination with a drum composed of two sections hinged together and arranged to be opened to dump the contents, of a guard supported at the rear of the drum, substantially as described.

22. In a mixing apparatus, the combination with a mixing-drum provided with a loadingdoor, of a rod supported at the rear of the drum, and a foot on the door adapted to rest upon the rod when the door is open, substantially as described.

23. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of wheels, a mixing-drum mounted between said wheels, and shafts mounted on the wheelhubs, substantially as described.

24. In a mixingapparatus, the combination of wheels provided with grooved hubs, amixing-drum mounted between said wheels, and shafts connected to said wheel-hubs by boxes arranged in the grooves of the hubs, substantially as described.

25. In a mixing apparatus, the combination of adrum composed of two sections hinged together and provided with looking devices,

-of a lock-shooting bolt and runners arranged in juxtaposition to the drum, and a stud on the bolt positioned thereon so as to be engaged by one of the sections of the drum when the latter is opened to dump, whereby the bolt is retracted, substantially as described.

26. In a mixing apparatus, the combination with a drum composed of two sections hinged together and provided with looking devices,

' latter is open to retract the bolt, and a, ringcatch engaging the bolt to retain it in retracted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in'presence of two subscribing wit- :5

nesses.

ISAAC H. FISHER. Witnesses:

WM. M. STOCKBRIDGE, GEO. W. REA. 

